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became quiet and stared off.

    “What’s wrong?” I asked, lifting my head off the back of the couch.

    She hesitated. “Carter came by.”

    “And?” I asked, excited and impatient. I sat up to face her.

    She stared off again. “He came by to see how I was feeling.”

    “That was really thoughtful of him.”

    “Yeah, I know,” she sighed.

    “What is it?”

    “Well… I just wish I knew if he liked me back. Don’t get me wrong; I’m really happy for you. It’s obvious that Oliver likes you…” I spaced off after that. Oliver likes me? How awesome is that! Everything about him seems so…so, awesome, for lack of a better word. There’s got to be some major flaw somewhere. No one can be so… Kiera’s voice stopped my thought process.

    “You know?” she finished. No, I don’t know. I totally missed what she said.

    “I’m sorry. What was that?”

    She huffed and gave me an irritated look. “I said” she over-enunciated the words, “I wish I could be as confident as you and just talk to him, ask him out, maybe.”

    Oh, I’m a total jerk for spacing off. “I’m sorry. I spaced. And I don’t know what you’re talking about. I say some really lame stuff. I actually asked him about the weather. The weather, Kiera.”

    She giggled.

    “How about we invite them both over for a movie or dinner, or something?” I could have been setting myself up. Would I be too nervous to eat in front of Oliver? Oh, my. I’m starting to sound like Kiera.

    She smiled at me, her sweet, innocent smile. She was so cute in her pink, plaid, flannel jammy pants and her pink, long-sleeved jammy top. Her hair was pulled up in a messy part ponytail-part bun—a messy pony-bun. She reminded me of Tinkerbell, little and cute. If only she was wearing green. I suppressed a giggle.

    “That’s a great idea.” She paused. You could almost see her thought process at work. “Ask Oliver when you see him tomorrow. Invite them both over through him.” She beamed at what she thought was a brilliant plan.

    “Sure,” I said, forcing my smile not to look nervous. Now I had to work up the nerve to ask him. I smiled back at her for real, remembering that I had told Oliver that Kiera had a crush on Carter. I’ll just tell him that she wants to invite them over for dinner and he’ll catch on. I hope…

Chapter 5 - In Desperate Need of Underpants

    Kiera and I had planned to go to the mall that night. I was in desperate need of new underwear and I wanted to get them before going home to Aunt Lilly’s this weekend so I could wash them with the rest of my laundry while I was there.

    Unfortunately, Kiera didn’t think she was feeling up to going, so I headed off to the mall alone.

    The sun was setting as I walked through the mall parking lot to the front entrance. A cool breeze brushed my face. It felt nice. I was ready for fall.

    I paused just after I walked inside the entrance in front of Pretzel Town. I hadn’t had dinner and they had the best pretzels and lemonade. After I buy underpants , I told myself, and I continued on to the panty store which I liked to call “Fancy Pants Central.”

    Fancy Pants was a bit pricey, but they had the best undergarments. I knew exactly what I wanted and where they were located. I was on a mission; I wanted that pretzel, but I needed underwear. I grabbed a shopping bag from the stand they were hanging from as I entered the store and started searching through the hipsters for my size. Five pairs later, I headed for my favorite cotton-lace thongs and quickly grabbed whatever colors I could find that would fit me. Then it was time for a new bra. My favorite style was on sale and in my favorite color, turquoise. I found one in my size and a pair of matching panties, just for fun. After getting distracted by all the new perfumes that I loved to smell, but never bought, I headed to the register and paid.

    As I left the store, I was preoccupied. I shoved the receipt into my wallet, not